What Would You Do?

May 3, 2013 | My Jottings

I just read an article in our local paper about how a small company has opened a Segway tour business in our city. They will offer guided tours on the beautiful miles-long Lakewalk of Lake Superior, which I always say is our treasure. segway_tour_highPeople from all over Minnesota drive to be near Lake Superior, and I’ve never grown tired of living close to it myself.

When you see it in person for the first time it’s staggering how huge it is. Growing up with plenty of opportunities to see the Pacific Ocean, I was speechless when I first laid eyes on Lake Superior in 1981, and gasped to Michael, “What’s that?”  Ahem. It’s a vast body of water, the largest freshwater lake in the world, and it looks like an ocean. And it still takes my breath away 32 years later.

So a chance to have a new experience and ride a Segway near the Lake sounds absolutely fantastic to me. People will have to ride single file and go fairly slow, helmets will be required, and everyone will wear a device that allows them to hear the guide share historical facts about our gorgeous part of the country.

I do like to walk on the Lakewalk near Lake Superior too, but I’ve had this teeny-tiny knee issue for a couple of years now and walking through a grocery store to buy raspberries, corn tortillas, eggs and canned pinto beans is about what I can manage without knashing my teeth.

Hopefully my teeth will shout hallelujah when my knee replacement surgery is over and all my physical therapy is complete and I’ll feel like walking long distances again.

Anyway, after I read about the Segways, I thought about the things I would like to do, but don’t, because of one excuse or another. Some of my excuses are presently legitimate, like the aforementioned knee that makes powder of my bones when I walk long distances. But I’m a fairly adventurous person even if few people would ever suspect this because of my stay-at-home hermit-like tendencies. Even as a little girl I used to plunge into the cold, mighty, thundering Pacific and swim so far out past the waves, when I turned and looked toward the shore the people looked like colored dots.

Here are a few things I would love to do:

Ride a Segway
Cycle long distances
Swim every day
Learn to high dive (I can do front and back flips now)
Water ski
Teach a class
Drive a Sea-doo on our Lake
Zip line through a forest in Alaska
Ride a pleasant, dependable horse
Para-sail
Buy a Vespa and use it for short errands
Be in another book club
Learn to love the taste of raw juices
Skydive from a plane, but only if Jesus Himself told me ahead of time that I would land safely

And conversely, there are a few things I would never want to try, no matter what. They are:

Mountain climbing
Rappelling
Working diligently to acquire a taste for alcohol
Driving a race car
Roller blading
Flying on a trapeze
Smoking
Raising Pit Bull Terriers
Spelunking
Starting a catering business
Scuba diving

So hey, what are some things you would try if you knew the outcome would be just fine?

What are some things you would never be interested in doing, no matter what?

I know that sometime soon I’ll be taking a Segway tour. At least it’s a start….

Comments

  1. connie says:

    I think the segway tour looks like fun. I would be a little worried that I might fall over. Coordination isnt my strong point these days! Haha But rolling along on that looks like a person couldnt help but giggle with glee. I would love to: work in the nursery at a zoo or wildlife refuge, go backpacking on the John Muir trail, learn to draw or paint, and learn to snowboard. I would also like to see a real goblin shark, the video is incredible!
    I would never, ever go spelunking. I can hardly think of anything more terrifying! Scuba diving is definately out since even snorkeling is too claustrophobic for me. And I would never want to be an exterminator because cockroaches are as wretched as spelunking. All other bugs are acceptable, maybe kind of gross, but not horrifying.

  2. Just Julie says:

    I loved reading your lists, Connie…thank you! I have to look up a goblin shark right now. I’m a little concerned about falling on the Segway too, but I’m going to try anyway. 🙂 God bless you and yours… xo

  3. Ganeida says:

    I highly recommend rapelling. One of my favourite things to do. The worst bit is going over the edge but once you’re committed…well, it’s super~duper wow factor!

  4. Ganeida says:

    And I don’t recommend caving ~ which I’ve tried. More than once. Silly me.

  5. Just Julie says:

    You are a brave soul, Ganeida…rappelling! I’d love to have observed that. And going down into a cave is not for me either – no amount of anything could persuade me. 🙂 xo

  6. Patty says:

    I would sing out loud, songs from the Great American Songbook, in a public place and not be concerned in the least that people would be plugging their ears!!! Now I just do it in the shower or in the car…..

  7. Just Julie says:

    I think that’s a great thing to aspire to, Patty! Go for it! xo

  8. Savannah says:

    My “I Will” List
    Travel to Greece, New Zealand, India, Scotland, South Korea, and Thailand.
    Go bungee jumping and skydiving in New Zealand.
    Swim with dolphins WITHOUT a life jacket.
    Go to culinary school.
    Be a foster mom to teenage boys.
    Have a house where I have a large air conditioned sun room.
    Be fit (and skinny enough) to go hiking, cycling, and above all kayaking.
    Be a full time stay at home mom.

    My “I Wish” List
    That I could quit my awful job this minute and stay at home.
    That I could sing like Adele or an equivalent.
    That I could play the piano and guitar.
    That I were fluent in Spanish and French.
    That I could paint professionally.

  9. Just Julie says:

    May your I Will list and your I Wish list happen sooner than you ever dreamed! LY… xoxo

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